Age-related Saccadic Reaction Time Associated with Attention and Working Memory

Objective: This study examined saccadic reaction time (SRT) in visually guided saccades according to age and its relationship with attention and working memory. Materials and Methods: The study participants were divided into three groups: young adulthood (18-39 years), middle adulthood (40-59 years old), and older age groups (over 60 years). A total of 85 participants, including 20 young aged, 26 middle aged, and 39 older aged, participated in the study. SRT was recorded using the EyeLink 1000 Plus eye tracker, and 32 trials were conducted. In addition, neuropsychological tests assessing attention and working memory including the Trail Making Test (TM), Digit Span (DS), and Stroop test were applied to the participants. Results: SRTs were prolonged in the middle adulthood (P = 0.026) and older age group compared with young adulthood (P = 0.002). However, SRT did not differ between the middle adulthood and older age groups (P > 0.05). In addition, SRT was moderately positively and negatively correlated with TM-A (r = 0.355, P = 0.001), TM-B (r = 0.460, P < 0.001), TM-B-A (r = 0.433, P < 0.001), and DS backward (r = -0.409, P < 0.001) that is visual attention and working memory. Conclusion: SRT may be affected by age. This appears to be part of the visual attention and working memory associated with the saccadic decision-making process.